Interim Head of External Affairs & Communications in Manchester

About Onward

Onward Homes is one of the largest registered providers of social housing in the Northwest, with 35,000 properties across the region. We believe that everyone deserves a place to call their own, which is why we’re committed to building 500 new homes each year. We do more than just provide a roof over our customers’ heads; we’re here to make a real difference. In addition to creating positive spaces for our customers, we continuously strive to create a positive and progressive workspace to enable our colleagues to achieve their full potential. We embrace diversity and strive for diverse teams to create an inclusive culture which enables Onward to thrive and be representative of the communities that we serve.

We want to ensure that everybody has an opportunity to be part of our recruitment processes and will therefore make reasonable adjustments to accommodate our candidates. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you with our recruitment process via the email address below. If candidates have any concerns or questions in relation to the role at any stage of the recruitment and selection process, they can contact the HR team on HumanResourcesTeam@onward.co.uk and a member of the HR Team will be in touch.

What we’re looking for

We are seeking an experienced Head of External Affairs & Communications to join Onward on a 12‑month fixed-term basis, providing senior leadership, influence and expert counsel at the highest level of the organisation. This is a home-based role with the expectation that the post holder will attend our offices across the northwest for meetings as required. This role has a strong focus on external affairs, reputation management and stakeholder influence, alongside providing clear, confident and trusted strategic communications guidance to the Chief Executive and Board. You will play a critical role in shaping how Onward is positioned externally and how our strategic narrative is articulated to key audiences. Leading our in-house Communications Team, you’ll ensure our external profile, media engagement and strategic communications activity directly support the Corporate Plan and wider strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Senior leadership & strategic influence
  • Provide strategic leadership to the Communications Team, setting clear priorities and driving high performance over the duration of the FTC.
  • Act as a senior adviser on external affairs and communications, providing expert strategic guidance to the Chief Executive, Board and Executive Team.
  • Manage budgets, resources and delivery plans to ensure effective execution of agreed strategies.
• External affairs & media relations
  • Lead Onward’s external affairs activity, ensuring strong positioning with political, regulatory, media and business stakeholders.
  • Proactively manage media relations and reputation risk, building strong relationships with key regional and national media contacts.
  • Lead high-profile campaigns and responses relating to corporate, political or sector issues.
• Strategic communications
  • Ensure the business receives high-quality, strategic communications advice aligned to the External Affairs Strategy and Communications Plans.
  • Translate organisational strategy and board-level priorities into clear, compelling external and internal communications.
• Content & narrative
  • Oversee the production of high-quality print and digital content that reinforces Onward’s strategic narrative and external influence.
  • Ensure consistency, clarity and impact across all communication channels.
• Partnerships & representation
  • Lead the development of strong external partnerships that support delivery of the External Affairs Strategy.
  • Act as a visible and credible ambassador for Onward and our customers with senior stakeholders and partners.

Essential

• Significant experience leading a communications or external affairs team within a complex or high-profile environment.
• A proven track record of developing and delivering communications and PR strategies.
• Experience advising senior leaders, including at executive or board level.
• Experience leading strategic campaigns and engagement with high-profile external audiences, including political and business leaders.
• Strong ability to translate strategic intent into practical plans and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrable experience of developing people and driving high performance.
• A strong customer-focused approach, either in-house or agency-based.

Desirable

• Senior experience within a communications or public affairs agency.
• Experience of leading strategic communications within housing, housebuilding or property-related sectors.
• Confidence using insight and data to inform decision-making.
• Intermediate IT skills, including Microsoft Office.

Qualifications

• Educated to A-level standard or equivalent qualification or experience.
• Professional marketing qualification or equivalent experience.

Benefits

• We offer a competitive salary of £91,500 per annum.
• 35 hour per week.
• 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a total of 40 days paid holiday per annum which is equivalent to 8 weeks.
• Salary Finance - access both short and long terms loans, plus provides access to a savings facility.
• Opportunity to further increase annual leave with service or through the holiday purchase scheme.
• Immediate entry to our Pension scheme (matched contributions up to 10%).
• A great flexible working environment, with a range of family friendly policies.
• Health cash plan with financial benefits and the option to extend to your family.
• Cover includes dental, optical, physiotherapy, 24HR private GP access and much more.
• Paid leave for absence including sickness, maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Access of up to £150 annually through the ‘Learning for life’ scheme.
• Access to a wide range of discounts and cash back offers, ranging from retail and automotive to holidays and cycle to work scheme.
• Develop your career with support and access to training and qualifications.
• 2 paid half days volunteering per year.